What do franchisors look for in franchise candidates? Trait Three…
Think you need an MBA to impress a franchisor? Not true. In this series, we’ll examine some of the key traits that franchisors seek in potential franchisees, and why those traits are so important.
Trait 3: Natural positive energy
We love meeting franchise candidates who exude a natural vitality and can-do attitude. To help illustrate the power of positive energy in a business setting, we went to Kathy and Pam, two Kiddie Academy franchisees whose positive energy has an important impact on their business. Here’s what they told us:
- Leading the business with a positive attitude is a daily responsibility. Kathy told us, “We make it a point to feed our staff members positive energy at the beginning of every day. That first half hour, going around and getting everyone excited about the day, that’s probably the most important half hour of the day, because it sets the stage for everything else.”
- Authentic positive energy is something that clients sense instinctively. “No client wants to come into an environment where the staff is suffering through the day. Clients can feel authentic positive energy in the air, and it makes them want to come back,” says Pam. “When our clients say to us, ‘You can really tell that everybody who works here really wants to be here,’ that’s when we know we’re doing things right.”
- As a business owner, you have to genuinely enjoy connecting with people. “We don’t sit around and wait for clients to engage us,” says Kathy. “If I see a client that’s a bit shy or uncertain, I’ll make it my goal to get out there and connect to that person, to be a fun and optimistic part of their day. Many clients have even become friends.”
- Being naturally positive is probably most critical in negative situations. According to Pam, “If we have to talk to a parent about a child’s behavioral problem, we really want to set a upbeat tone for that conversation. You’d be amazed at how even just coming in with a smile and that positivity can diffuse tension right away. It lets clients know that at the bottom of it all, you’re there to partner with them and help them through in a friendly way.”
What other traits do you think effective franchise business owners share? Post your answers, questions and comments below. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see discussed here, email us at blog@kiddieacademy.com.
